A March of Liberty A Constitutional History of the United States, Volume 1: From the Founding t...

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A March of Liberty: A Constitutional History of the United States, Third Edition, is a clearly written, comprehensive overview of American constitutional development. Covering the country's history from the founding of the English colonies up through the latest decisions of the Supreme Court, this two-volume work presents the most complete discussion of American constitutional history currently available. Authors Melvin I. Urofsky and Paul Finkelman successfully blend cases and court doctrines into the larger fabric of American political, economic, and social history.

They discuss in detail the great cases handed down by the Supreme Court, showing how these cases played out in society and how constitutional growth parallels changes in American culture. In addition, they examine lesser-known decisions that played important roles in affecting change, and also provide in-depth analyses of the intellects and personalities of the Supreme Court justices who made these influential decisions.

Updated with the most recent scholarship, the third edition of this textbook offers more cases on a broader range of issues including the environment, labor, civil rights, and Native American concerns. It now presents new selections on decisions, statutes, and constitutional developments from the first decade of the 21st century--like the USA PATRIOT Act, presidential signing statements, same-sex marriage, reproductive rights, campaign financing, and firearms regulation. The text reflects the current trends in American constitutional history by employing a holistic approach that integrates the decisions of the state and lower federal courts with the decisions of the Supreme Court.

A March of Liberty, Third Edition, features useful supplemental materials including the text of the Constitution, a chronological list of Supreme Court justices, an appendix of the names and years for each Supreme Court justice, and suggested further readings. Gracefully written and clearly explained, this popular two-volume set is indispensable for courses in American constitutional history and law.

A March of Liberty is clearly written, comprehensive overview of American constitutional development. It presents the most complete discussion of American constitutional history currently available.

This textbook shows how cases played out in society and how constitutional growth parallels changes in American culture.It also contains in-depth analyses of the intellects and personalities of the Supreme Court justices who made these influential decisions

Melvin Urofsky is Emeritus Professor of History and Public Policy at Virginia Commonwealth University. He is the co-author of Documents of American Constitutional and Legal History, Volumes 1 & 2, Second Edition (OUP, 2001).

Paul Finkelman is President William McKinley Distinguished Professor of Law and Public Policy at Albany Law School. He is the co-author of Documents of American Constitutional and Legal History, Volumes 1 & 2, Second Edition (OUP, 2001), and American Legal History, Third Edition (OUP, 2004).

1From the Old World to the NewMagna Carta and the Rule of Law · The Common Law Enthroned · Organizing for Settlement · The Merchant Colonies: Virginia and Massachusetts · The Compact Colonies · The Proprietary Colonies · Growth of Legislative Dominance · The English Revolutions and the Dominion of New England · For Further Reading

2Law in Colonial AmericaSettler and Indian Views of Land · Simplifying Property Law · Personal Status: Women · Laborers · Slaves · Religion · Criminal Law · Lawyers and Practice · The Privy Council and Imperial Courts · Witchcraft and Press Freedom · For Further Reading

3The Road to IndependenceThe Mercantile System · Colonial Governments · Writs of Assistance · The Parsons Cause and the Two Penny Act · Colonial Constitutional Thought · Republican Ideology · The British View · The Stamp Act and the Colonial Response · The Townshend Duties · Tea and the Coercive Acts · The First Continental Congress · Parting of the Ways · The Declaration of Independence · Slavery · Conclusion · For Further Reading

4The Revolutionary EraCongress Governs · The Articles of Confederation · New State Governments · Conservatives and Radicals · State Constitutions · Religious Freedom · Slavery · Judicial Review and the Success and Failure of State Constitutions in the Revolutionary Era · The Common Law Survives · Blackstone's Influence · Conclusion · For Further Reading

5The Crisis of ConfederationDefects of the Articles · A Government Without Energy · Western Land Policy · Northwest Ordinance · Shays's Rebellion · Madison and the Annapolis Convention · Toward the Philadelphia Convention · For Further Reading

6A More Perfect UnionThe Philadelphia Convention · Representation and the Structure of Government · Slavery and Representation · The Executive Branch · The Judicial Branch · The Powers of 'the New Government · Regulating Commerce · Concluding the Convention · The Constitution and Federalism · Checks and Balances · The Debate over Ratification · Federalists and Antifederalists · Ratification · Conclusion: The Constitution and Democracy · For Further Reading

7Launching the Great ExperimentWashington Takes Office · The Bill of Rights · The Government Takes Shape · Raising a Revenue · Hamilton's Financial Program · The Bank of the United States · The Hamilton-Jefferson Debate · The Whiskey Rebellion · The Slave Trade and the Fugitive Slave Law of 1793 · Defining Presidential Power · Presidential Conduct of Foreign Affairs · The Neutrality Proclamation · Jay's Treaty · Conclusion: Washington's Achievements · For Further Reading

13A Law Made for the TimesDebate over the Law · An American System · Legal Instrumentalism · Changing Views of Land · Water Usage · Taking of Land · Emergence of Tort Law · Master and Servant · Commercial Law · The Corporation · Sales · Negotiable Instruments · Contract · Conclusion · For Further Reading

14Politics, Nationalism, and CompetitionThe "Era of Good Feeling" · Georgia, Jackson, and the Indians · Georgia, the Indians, and the Court · Calhoun Responds to the Tariff · The Webster-Hayne Debate · The Nullification Crisis · Internal Improvements · Jackson Versus the Bank · Monopoly and Economic Expansion · The Charles River Bridge Case Begins · The Last Years of the Marshall Court · Chief Justice Taney · The Charles River Bridge Case Is Decided · Conclusion: The New Departure · For Further Reading

15Jacksonian DemocracyA Sense of Mastery · State Constitutional Development · Constitutional Flexibility · The Political Party and Its Function · Family Law · Women's Rights · Children and the Law · Early Labor Movements · Debtor Imprisonment · Pauper Relief · The New Prison · Code Revision · Race Relations and Antislavery · Conclusion · For Further Reading

19The Union SunderedThe Election of 1860 · Secession Winter · "And the War Came" · The Provisional Confederate Constitution · The Permanent Confederate Constitution · Defects in the Confederate Scheme · The Political Party as a War Tool · Lincoln Takes Control · Ex Parte Merryman · Judicial Reorganization in Wartime · The Adequacy of the Constitution · War Powers and the Rebellion · Defining Rebel Status · The Growth of National Power · The Emancipation Proclamation · The Thirteenth Amendment · For Further Reading